Malaysia Charges Opposition Politician With Sedition

Case Against Rayer Is Fifth Brought This Year Under Colonial-Era Law

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysian prosecutors on Wednesday charged an opposition politician with sedition for cursing at the main party in the ruling coalition, the fifth case this year in which the government has charged opposition lawmakers under the colonial-era law.

Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer, a state legislator in northern Penang state, is the latest to be charged under the 1948 law that also allows the detention of people accused of urging the overthrow of the government. Prosecutors have charged four other opposition...